Systems and methods for identifying information related to payment card testing

Abstract

Approaches for determining a potential payment card that has been tested or a testing site are disclosed. Based on a variety of information, including transaction information associated with one or more cards, information indicative of unscrupulous actors vetting cards can be determined. By reviewing transaction information, patterns can emerge such as a card being used in many different locations within a short time span. Based on these patterns, a test site or compromised merchant can be determined. After a test site is determined, other cards used at the particular test site can also be determined.

1 . A system for identifying a merchant as a test site, the system comprising:
 a memory device configured to store a set of instructions storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform steps of:
 acquiring transaction data associated with one or more payment cards, the transaction data including a time of a transaction, a location of the transaction, and amount of the transaction, and a merchant identifier associated with the transaction; 
 identifying a pattern of transactions within the transaction data, the pattern of transactions associated with the one or more payment cards and the merchant identifier; 
 comparing the pattern of transactions to a database of abnormalities, the abnormalities associated with testing sites; and 
 determining that the merchant is a test site based on the comparing the pattern. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern of transactions includes transactions with an amount of zero. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern of transactions includes a plurality of transactions occurring over a period of time, and wherein amounts associated with the transactions increase over the period of time. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern of transactions occur over a period of time, and no transactions occur after a payment card is declined. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 determine a location associated with the pattern of transactions.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 flag the additional payment cards that are associated with the merchant as potentially being compromised.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the one or more processors to:
 send a notification to one or more issuers of the determined additional payment cards that are associated with the merchant.   
     
     
         8 . A method for determining payment card testing, the method comprising:
 acquiring transaction data associated with one or more payment cards the transaction data including a time of a transaction, a location of the transaction, and amount of the transaction, and a merchant identifier associated with the transaction;   identifying a pattern of transactions within the transaction data, the pattern of transactions associated with the one or more payment cards and the merchant identifier;   comparing the pattern of transactions to a database of abnormalities, the abnormalities associated with testing sites; and   determining that the merchant is a test site based on the comparing the pattern.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pattern of transactions includes transactions with an amount of zero. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pattern of transactions includes a plurality of transactions occurring over a period of time, and wherein amounts associated with the transactions increase over the period of time. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pattern of transactions occur over a period of time, and no transactions occur after a payment card is declined. 
     
     
         12 . The system of method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining a location associated with the pattern of transactions.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 flagging the additional payment cards that are associated with the merchant as potentially being compromised.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:
 sending a notification to one or more issuers of the determined additional payment cards that are associated with the merchant.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions that are executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform a method to determine payment card testing, the method comprising:
 acquiring transaction data associated with one or more payment cards the transaction data including a time of a transaction, a location of the transaction, and amount of the transaction, and a merchant identifier associated with the transaction;   identifying a pattern of transactions within the transaction data, the pattern of transactions associated with the one or more payment cards and the merchant identifier;   comparing the pattern of transactions to a database of abnormalities, the abnormalities associated with testing sites; and   determining that the merchant is a test site based on the comparing the pattern.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pattern of transactions includes transactions with an amount of zero. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the pattern of transactions includes a plurality of transactions occurring over a period of time, and wherein amounts associated with the transactions increase over the period of time. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the pattern of transactions occur over a period of time, and no transactions occur after a payment card is declined. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining a location associated with the pattern of transactions.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
 sending a notification to one or more issuers of the determined additional payment cards that are associated with the merchant.